MovieChat Forums > Farewell, My Lovely (1975) Discussion > Mitchum Too Old For This Part in '75

Mitchum Too Old For This Part in '75

posted 2 years ago by Speeed (174)
11 replies | jump to latest

He's one of my favorite actors and I loved him to bits in Out of the Past and quite a few others. But a 15 to 20 years younger Mitchum would've been a much better Mitchum for this role. He looked haggard and whenever he was in a fight or on the ground, he looked saggy like a heart attack waiting to happen.

Also, when he was giving Moose the low-down on everything that was happening, I couldn't help feeling Bogart's or Powell's Marlow would've delivered it with a bit more punch and a sharp-edge delivery. Mitchum just sounded like he was bumbling and desperate.

"Farewell, My Lovely" was the first Chandler book I ever read and this version comes pretty close to what I had in my mind's eye and am glad the director made it this way but I just wish he'd found someone younger.

[–] seagal72 (1867) 2 years ago

Personally, I had no problem with Mitchum's age (or appearance) in this movie (just as I had no problem with Elliott Gould's wise-ass, hip demeanour in 'The Long Goodbye') as it's all about the individual representation of the character.
Bogart (or Powell) had different acting styles (as did Mitchum)
Mitchum had the hangdog look of a jaded, seen-it-all, long before he ever played Marlowe (imo) and I think it helped give his interpretation, a sense of world-weariness (likely required to sustain it being the umpteenth retelling of an oft-told tale, plus also to reflect where hard-boiled cinema was in the mid-seventies)
For what it's worth, I also enjoyed Mitchum in Michael Winners 'The Big Sheep'

[–] Speeed (174) 2 years ago

You got that right about Mitchum playing it world-weary : ) That's why those self-deprecating lines sounded perfect coming out Mitchum's mouth. I guess I just prefer Bogart's interpretation the best.

I think many people felt a sense of nostalgia for the stylized dress, style, and unfettered masculinity of the 30s, 40s, and 50s that had disappeared by the beginning of the 70s. I know I did. I think that's why there were so many hardboiled/noir remakes during this time.

I think you you were referring to Mitchum in 'The Big SLEEP' : D That's my all time #1 favorite movie so I can't imagine it being up to the original '46 standard but I'll give it a watch because it's one of the only noir remakes I haven't seen. Thanks.

[–] huwdj (4563) 2 years ago

I'd quite like to see Michael Winners, The Big Sheep :)

[–] seagal72 (1867) 2 years ago

Predictive text will be the downfall of mankind :)

[–] kwestmo (4283) 2 years ago

When Mitchum was in is 30's he was perfect for Marlowe.

[–] Speeed (174) 2 years ago

Exactly. The same year he starred in "Out of the Past" and "Crossfire."

[–] R_Kane (15828) 2 years ago

Name me someone younger who could replace Robert Mitchum.

[–] Speeed (174) 2 years ago

Actually, I was thinking someone like Eastwood could've pulled it off well. He was hitting around 35 in '75, a little on the young side, I know, but his slight snide sense of humor would've fit right in and he had a hell of a lot of star power by that time. Or even Nicholson who was 37 or James Caan who was 35.

[–] Jones70 (6195) 2 years ago

Eastwood was 45 in 75.

[–] Speeed (174) 2 years ago

That's even better. That'd be closer in age to Bogart's Marlow.

[–] ecarle (14979) 2 years ago

or James Caan who was 35.

--

James Caan played Philip Marlowe in "Poodle Springs" a 1998 HBO movie.

---

In the immediate years before Robert Mitchum played Marlowe in Farewell, My Lovely , the character was played by younger men in "The Long Goodbye"(1973 -- Elliiott Gould played him) and "Marlowe" (1969--James Garner played him.)

interestingly, the Gould and Garner films were set "present day" so one gimmick of the 1975 Marlowe movie was to set the movie in the decade when the books had been set -- the 1940s -- and to hire an actor who had actually WORKED in the 40s: Mitchum. He "fit" the movie in a way that rather belied his years. And his voice was ageless and the most distinctive thing about him.

More interestingly, still, when the producers elected to use Mitchum again in a remake of The Big Sleep(1978), they elected to move MITCHUM's Marlowe TO "present day" -- and to move him over to London(as an American transplant) as well. Wow.

Even yet more interestingly still, though The Big Sleep was made three years after Farewell My Lovely...Mitchum looked YOUNGER in the later film. A LOT younger. Some of it was his modern, expensive suits and sport coats -- they were cut "slim" and maybe Mitchum had lost some weight. Some of it was his much longer hair than in the 40's film. Long hair rather added youth and vigor to Mitchum's face.

There was also the aspect that The BIg Sleep was filmed in very bright light that gave Mitchum a youthful appearance. In Farewell, My Lovely, Mitchum is often in shadow or in the dark, and with a short haircut and old suit(apparently, said Mitchum, "Victor Mature's old farted-up suit from an old movie he did.)

I don't think that Mitchum is too old i either Farewell My Lovely or The Big Sleep. Like Sean Connery in Never Say Never Again, the age of this action guy is a poignant part of the story. And Mitchum can still throw a punch(like at a really overweight villainous whorehouse madam) and shoot a gun(to kill.)